Optoma HD142X Vs HD141X

After a successful run with Optoma HD141X, the company has finally released the successor: Optoma HD142X. They are among the least expensive options available in the market, but they can throw amazingly accurate and detailed large-sized images for the best home theater experience. Below, we will see the detailed comparisons between Optoma HD142X vs HD141X to help you choose.

What you can learn from this article:

  • The design of each projector
  • The hardware features of the two projectors
  • The ease of use of each projector
  • The performance of Optoma HD142X vs HD141X
  • Which model that is generally better for the money

Quick Overview
Key Similarities

  • Black-on-black color scheme
  • DLP projection technology
  • Only has essential connection ports
  • Regular controls and keystone correction
  • 3,000 ANSI Lumens
  • 10W mono speaker

Key Differences

Optoma HD142XOptoma HD141X
Low-profile designSomewhat bulky design
Slightly improved brightness and detailGood brightness and detail
26 dB noise rating31 dB noise rating
Much better heat displacementNoticeable heat on the front

Design
Of all the aspects of Optoma HD141X, the design is probably the most helpful that makes it stand out in the market competition. It features a black-on-black styling, with a polished top casing and subtle lines on the edges. The design does not capture your eyes right away, but you will appreciate the subtle elegance more the longer you gaze at it.

The world of projectors has not seen a real design innovation within the past few years, even though these devices often become attention catchers in home theater rooms. Fortunately, Optoma HD141X has strayed from the traditional norms by coming up with a sleek black shell. It looks modern and stylish. The black color should make it easy to match with most room decoration. The subtle elegance will look very nice without grating the eyes.

Compared to the successor, Optoma HD141X is a little bigger and heavier. One reason is the bulky lens port, which adds several centimeters to the total height. It weighs about 5.5 lbs, which is pretty heavy but not overly heavy. The mounting is quite flexible and versatile, as you can mount it on the ceiling, back wall, or custom coffee table.

Optoma HD142X has retained many aspects of Optoma HD141X’s design. However, it has a nice low-profile design and lighter weight.

However, as the successor, Optoma HD142X hasn’t gone far from Optoma HD141X in terms of design. Not that this is a bad thing, but it would be nice if there is more innovation to enjoy. It retains a black-on-black color scheme with an overall boxy shape. There is still a grated plastic part on the front.

There is just one good thing, which is the low-profile design. If you observe the two models carefully, you may notice that the lens port on Optoma HD142X is now smaller and completely housed in the unit without creating bulkiness on the top and bottom. This design should allow you to fit the projector more easily in any room, compared to other larger models that may not be able to squeeze in.

Optoma HD142X weighs about 5.2 lbs, so it is pretty heavy. Even so, it is far from being the heaviest projector in the market. You can still mount it on your ceiling or back wall without worrying about it falling down. The compact size with a depth of only 3.7 inches will make it easy to fit stealthily into a custom coffee table.

Hardware
There is no major difference between Optoma HD142X vs HD141X in terms of hardware. Both models still use the same projection technology, although Optoma HD142X is able to throw slightly larger images now. Most of the connection ports are also similar.

When it was first released, Optoma HD141X amazed a lot of people. It utilizes the DLP technology to produce impressive images at a maximum display resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and contrast ratio of 23,000:1. This projector can easily throw an accurate and detailed image as large as 300” from just 20 ft away.

Unfortunately, the powerful projection is not accompanied with rich connection options. In fact, Optoma HD141X has a serious lack of input options. There are just two HDMI 1.4 ports (one of which supports MHL), one mini USB input, and a single audio-out jack.

Now, to be fair, having just the essential connection ports is understandable, as Optoma HD141X comes with a very affordable price tag. And there is a VESA 3D Sync port for a seamless integration with your favorite Bluray 3D player. Still, it would be nice to have some additional ports.

Just like the predecessor, Optoma HD142X suffers a serious lack of connection options. Fortunately, this is remedied by the impressive performance.

Optoma HD142X still uses a DMD-chip DLP technology to produce impressive images. This model still supports a maximum display resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and contrast ratio of 23,000:1. It can throw an image as large as 305.5” from 32 ft away.

Most of the connections ports remain similar, too. Just like the predecessor, Optoma HD142X suffers from a serious lack of connection options. It has two HDMI 1.4/MHL ports, one USB port, and one audio output jack. It also has a 3D-sync slot, which is nice if you plan to create a robust home theater that supports 3D movies. Fortunately, the lack of connection options is remedied by the impressive performance, as you’ll see below.

User Interface
Optoma HD141X has a relatively basic user interface. It is exactly like what you would expect from a project in this price range. At least, all the regular customization options and some advanced settings are already included, such as the keystone correction which is for adjusting the projection angle to suit how the projector is being mounted.

Just like the other aspects of Optoma HD141X, the user interface is made to be simple. However, it also has prominent user-friendliness, so it is very nice for new users who have never touched a projector before this one. It can do all the tasks that it is supposed to do. There is an option for turning on/off the dynamic black levels, which is great.

Optoma HD142X comes with a similar user interface as Optoma HD141X, with basic controls and keystone correction. However, it has nice presets designed for particular applications or content types.

Again, not many things have changed on Optoma HD142X vs HD141X, this time on the user interface. There are basic controls as well as some advanced features. The brightness, contrast, and picture settings are all placed on a single menu screen. The four-corner keystone correction makes a re-appearance, which is very useful for adjusting the projection from a tricky mounting position.

Optoma HD142X comes with several presets for Cinema, Gaming, Reference, and sRGB. Each preset has specific settings for the color temperature and response time, designed for the particular application you are using or the content type you are planning to watch. The presets are very handy, as they can give very good results without requiring much tinkering on the settings.

Image Quality
The overall image quality of Optoma HD141X is already good, thanks to the DLP projection technology. There isn’t much of a difference between 2D and 3D content. Most of the benefits of the sophisticated technology are carried over to the third dimension of the vision space.

One caveat to the impressive image quality is the Dynamic Black feature. This feature is supposed to add more depth into the image by adjusting the lamp output smoothly, according to the brightness information of every frame. However, this feature is not always good. It may make the performance go slightly haywire when playing highly dynamic frames, as it is trying to rapidly darken the blacks and pump the contrast levels of the objects to compensate for the visibility.

The brightness is great. It is far above what you can expect from a projector that is available under six hundred dollars. From a distance of about 5 ft during the day, the brightness on the screen is about 1370 lux. From 10 ft, the brightness only drops slightly to 1102 lux. Dead zones on the top left and right-side corners of the screen don’t have any real issue, as the fading only goes to 912 lux.

Optoma HD142X has impressive brightness and overall image quality.

Of course, by now, Optoma has established itself as a company that makes seriously bright projectors that will not break your budget. Optoma HD142X is similar to the predecessor, as it has a brightness rating of 3,000 ANSI Lumens. This projector can easily fill the room even in the brightest day ever.

From a distance of about 7 ft in near-darkness, the brightness levels are impressive. It is 2,486 lux on the center and 2,132 lux on the outermost corners. From 10 ft, it only drops to 1,672 lux on the center and variably between 1,250 – 1,550 lux on the outermost corners. Optoma HD142X is ready to show you impressively bright and vivid images in any room condition.

Besides making powerful projectors at affordable price points, Optoma is also great in making projectors with awesome features that can easily run with twice or thrice higher costs. Optoma HD142X can stream movies and TV channels with very good image quality. 4K video source also looks amazing, with little to no frame drops or bad focus.

Sound Quality
Usually, built-in speakers are the last thing that people compare when choosing between several projector models. Most of the time, you just connect your projector to a powerful stereo or surround system, or at least a truly reliable external speaker. Still, sometimes a built-in speaker is desired, such as in an outdoor party or camping trip, so let’s see the sound quality of Optoma HD142X vs HD141X.

Each of the two models here is equipped with a 10W mono speaker. They can be pretty loud when needed. Of course, at the higher volume levels, they become muddy and terrible. However, it is still possible to fiddle with Optoma HD141X so that the sound is a little more balanced and tolerable.

Optoma HD142X, unfortunately, can’t sound as good. Blame the lackluster onboard drivers of the projector. The sound is loud yet very muddy. Even music and movies that are softer on the bass still sound bad on this projector.

Noise and Heat
When it was first released, Optoma HD141X effortlessly blew the market with its impressively low noise. You will hardly notice the fan noise in your room. It has a noise rating of 31 dB. Various tests with sensitive equipment have also shown that this unit only has a difference of about 3dB with the environment’s ambient sound. For sure, the fan noise will never disturb your home theater experience as you run through some movie content.

The aspect of Optoma HD141X that still requires some improvement is the heat displacement. The fan is placed near the front of the projector. This is especially bad if you put the projector on a shelf right behind your couch, as your back will notice the heat and begin to sweat. However, this becomes less of an issue if you put the projector inside a coffee table or on the ceiling. Just be careful with the placement.

Compared to the predecessor, Optoma HD142X has lower noise and also much better heat displacement.

Optoma HD142X has greatly improved in terms of noise and heat. You can put the projector wherever you want, even right behind your head, and you will hardly notice that it is there. Compared to its silent predecessor, Optoma HD142X is even more silent. There is just a bare whisper even when it is doing its hardest job, which is throwing 3D content at 144 Hz. The noise rating is only about 26 dB.

The heat displacement is much better on Optoma HD142X. It does not produce significant heat on the front, so you can place it virtually anywhere. This is a highly appreciable improvement.

Optoma HD142X Vs HD141X

NameOptoma HD142XOptoma HD141X
NameOptoma HD142XOptoma HD141X
Features- Screen Size Range: 66-inches from 8 feet; 107-inches from 12 feet - Brightness: 3000 ANSI Lumens - Contrast Ratio: 23,000:1; Keystone Correction: Yes, Lens Shift: No - Warranty: 1-Year Limited Parts and Labor, 90-Days on Lamp - 2 x HDMI (1.4a 3D support) + MHL v1.2, Audio Out 3.5mm, 12V trigger, 3D-Sync, USB service- Screen Size Range: 66-inches from 8 feet; 107-inches from 12 feet 3000 ANSI Lumens - Contrast Ratio: 23,000:1; Keystone Correction: Yes, Lens Shift: No - 1-Year Limited Parts and Labor, 90-Days on Lamp - 2 x HDMI (1.4a 3D support) + MHL v1.2, Audio Out 3.5mm, 12V trigger, 3D-Sync, USB service
Ratings4.6 out of 5.0 stars4.5 out of 5.0 stars
Price

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Conclusion

In choosing between Optoma HD142X vs HD141X, it is obvious now that Optoma HD142X does make a better value for the money. At first, the differences are not very noticeable. However, Optoma HD142X comes with a low-profile design and improved heat dissipation, so it is very much easier to place. It also has nice and handy presets. The brightness and image quality are great.

 

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